At a surface level, there’s a lot to like about the PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra controller. Its modular design allows for much versatility, great for whether you’re sitting on the couch or out on the go. And whether you opt for the full controller setup or the smaller pop-out module for mobile play, you’re getting seriously impressive battery life.

Those factors alone make the PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra a good choice for mobile gaming, especially for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Unfortunately, that versatility comes at a price, and not just the one that’ll sting your wallet. That modular nature leads to the MOGA XP-Ultra feeling somewhat unwieldy; too bulky when slotted in the controller grip dock and a little too small without it.

The PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra could’ve earned some leverage if its modules felt satisfying to use, but that’s sadly not the case. Face and shoulder buttons, triggers and analog sticks are all serviceable, if unremarkable while the D-pad disappoints with an overtly stiff feel. Compared to the PowerA Fusion Pro 3, and other mobile-centric gamepads like the PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus, the MOGA XP-Ultra sadly feels like a step back despite its emphasis on versatility.

Price and Availability

The PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra is available to buy right now, either directly from PowerA’s online store or from big box retailers including Amazon. If you’re interested, it’ll run you the retail price of $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$249, which puts it in the ballpark of other Pro-adjacent Xbox Series X|S controllers such as the Nacon Revolution X. 

Design and Features

The boxed contents of the PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra are fairly straightforward. You’re getting the controller itself, pre-positioned in the controller grip dock, a clip to secure your phone for portable play, and a 10ft braided USB-C cable, which is always a welcome addition in case you prefer wired play.

The XP-Ultra’s box proudly states that the gamepad presents four ways to play your favorite games. But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying you can use the clip for mobile gaming with or without the controller’s grip dock. Either way, the clip itself is of adequate quality, and slots in and out of place with relative ease.

It’s an impressively versatile gamepad, then, but is let down by a number of key factors. Face and shoulder buttons and triggers are serviceable, as are the dual analog sticks which are made better by a ruggedly textured concave design. However, I’m certainly not a fan of the controller’s D-pad, which tries to emulate the look and feel of the one on the official Xbox Wireless Controller. 

Sadly, the XP-Ultra’s feels overly stiff in comparison, and makes playing games that rely heavily on D-pad input more difficult than it needs to be. The D-pad is the worst thing about the controller, perhaps tied with the placement of the central Menu and Share buttons which are awkwardly high on the pad. That means you really have to reach your thumbs over, creating a somewhat uncomfortable gaming experience.

The most novel aspect of the PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra’s design is the ability to detach the central pad from the grip dock. It’s a convenient option if you’re playing on your Android or iPhone, but certainly feels cramped in the hands of an adult. And even without that extra bulk, I started to miss holding the grips in my hands after just a few hours.

Performance

The PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra performs adequately as a controller, with no glaring flaws when it comes to connectivity or input delay. It’ll certainly get the job done as a spare pad if you have friends round, but any of the best Xbox controllers will be better suited if you’re looking for a new primary gamepad.

That said, the XP-Ultra seriously impresses in one key area: battery life. Offering up to 40 hours via Bluetooth and a whopping 60 hours when paired to an Xbox console, the XP-Ultra’s battery life is among the best in the business, and certainly at its price range. It’s also relatively quick to charge via USB-C, from empty to full in just two to three hours. If the controller was just a bit cheaper, then I’d be able to recommend it on battery life alone.

Sure, you could argue that your phone’s battery will run out long before the XP-Ultra does, and it lacks the amazing phone-charging capabilities of the MOGA XP7-X Plus. But I’ll always be receptive to high battery life, especially when the controller is suited to both mobile and console play. It’s just such a shame that the controller’s overall design quality leaves much to be desired. Otherwise, we could be looking at a seriously compelling alternative to Microsoft’s official offerings.

Should you buy the PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra?

Buy it if...

You’re big on battery life

The XP-Ultra offers an utterly ridiculous amount of battery life that’s perfect for multiple lengthy gaming sessions, on both console and mobile.

You’re after a solid mobile pad

It’s not the best mobile gaming controller out there, but the XP-Ultra’s versatility lends itself well to mobile gaming.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

The XP-Ultra is far too expensive for what it offers. If you’re after a mobile-specific pad, consider the cheaper MOGA XP7-X Plus.

You’re all about the feel

If satisfying gamepad feel is important to you, then I’d suggest looking elsewhere.

How we tested

The PowerA MOGA XP-Ultra was tested over the course of a week. To get a well-rounded feel for the controller, it was tested as both a standard Xbox controller on console and PC, and for mobile, specifically with my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

On mobile, it was primarily tested with Xbox Cloud Gaming titles, including Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite and Powerwash Simulator. Games were tested both with the MOGA XP-Ultra in its grip dock, and without it for more portable play on the go.

The Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR Forza Horizon 5 Edition looks to bring the precision of the company’s dedicated racing wheels to a much smaller form factor. Instead of having a hulking wheel taking up space in your home setup, here you can just replace an analog stick with something entirely geared around racing. 

Designed for Xbox but also working natively with PC, Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR Forza Horizon 5 Edition can be considered one of the best Xbox controllers and the best PC controllers for dedicated racing fans. Thanks to its modularity, and some neat pro pad inclusions such as remappable rear paddles, microswitch buttons, and trigger stops, it’s a pretty solid option when gaming off the track as well. 

Price and availability

The Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR Forza Horizon 5 Edition is available now for $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$379 respectively. For context, that’s around $30 / £30 / AU$50 more than what the standard Thrustmaster eSwap Pro X model debuted at - but it’s worth stating that the first iteration of this controller can be found as cheap as $129.99 / £109.99 / AU$229.96 from Thrustmaster itself and retailers such as Amazon. Alternatively, you can purchase the standalone Thrustmaster eSwap X Racing Module for $29.99 / £26.99 / $62.74. If you already own either the Thrustmaster eSwap X Pro Controller or the cheaper Thrustmaster eSwap S model, this is a cheaper way to get your hands on it. 

Design and Features

Aesthetically, the Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR Forza Horizon 5 Edition looks great with its white and black color scheme adorned with pink stripes and accents. It's much more visually appealing than the standard black color of the original X variant. It’ll feel familiar to those that have seen the earlier production run of the same page, you’ve got mechanical face buttons, four programmable buttons on the rear, trigger stops, and a media bar on the bottom. Much like with the majority of Thrustmaster’s gamepads, it’s a wired controller which comes with a lengthy 10ft / 3m cable so that you can game from your couch on the Xbox Series X or comfortably at your desk plugged into a gaming PC.  

Where some pro-level controllers feature a textured performance grip, such as could be seen with the PS5’s Scuf Reflex Pro, the Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR Forza Horizon 5 Edition takes the opposite approach with a smooth and sleek finish. I’m personally not a fan of the slippery nature of this gamepad, which feels a little smoother than even the texture of the DualSense Wireless Controller. It’s far from a dealbreaker, but it is a little less grippy than I would have liked. 

The eSwap Pro XR is far from your standard controller, though. True to its name, you’re able to swap out modules for alternatives and rearrange the position to suit your usage. It works with magnets and contacts as you can simply pull the pieces out without the need for a small screwdriver as is the case with the Victrix BFG Pro. Included in the package is the racing wheel module which can be swapped out for a more traditional analog stick, but this gamepad is also compatible with all modules available from the manufacturer. 

Performance

I was initially skeptical when booting up Forza Horizon 5 with the eSwap XR controller with the Racing Module replacing the left analog stick. This addon eradicates the ability to move in 360 degrees. Instead, much like with some of the company’s best racing wheels, you’re restricted to movement entirely along the X-axis (horizontally). The main advantage of this eliminates the dead zones so you can make more precise turns with what’s been dubbed as the “re-centering system” where the wheel will snap back into the center. 

In execution, it does work incredibly well in Forza Horizon 5 with the weighty handling of the vehicles on the rural streets of Mexico. Admittedly, it took a few races to fully get to grips with this system, as the controller’s a little less sensitive than you might expect, but after a couple of laps, I was making tighter turns and braver maneuvers when pacing through Arch Of Mulegé Circuit when drifting around off-road. 

While the Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR Forza Horizon 5 Edition works incredibly well with the game of its namesake, the same cannot be said for all of the best racing games available. Lego 2K Drive was far from pleasant as the more fast-paced kart racer. This game requires both tight jumps and drifts, which meant I was sent crashing off course and lagging behind the competition more often than not as the wheel module fell short of giving me the agility needed. Dirt 5 was more of a middle ground. The off-road arcade racer, with its lighter handling and more treacherous terrain such as ice and trails, sometimes clicked and other times left me wanting my analog stick instead. While the racing wheel felt good, especially with the throaty controller vibration, it wasn’t as satisfying as having a small wheel could have been.

Should you buy the Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR Forza Horizon 5 Edition controller?

Buy it if…  

You play the Forza series extensively

If you love the Forza Horizon and Motorsport games then the racing module on the Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR feels like a dream. 

You don't want to get a full racing wheel setup

Naturally, one big offering this Forza 5 edition of the controller offers is a solid (if unspectacular) way to provide a racing wheel experience and input type, without the need for investing in a whole wheel - and you get a great controller in the process.

You’re after a modular pro controller 

Racing wheel module aside, this gamepad features some of the best adaptivity to different sticks and button layouts leaving you with a ton of different options for all types of games.

Don’t buy it if… 

You want a wireless pro controller

Much as is the case with all other Thrustmaster eSwap controllers to date, the Pro XR must be plugged in. While the cable is lengthy and high quality, there’s no option to cut the cord here. 

You already own the Thrustmaster eSwap Pro X or S

If you’re an existing eSwap user then you’re going to be better off buying the standalone Racing Module for the gamepad you already own, unless the color scheme particularly appeals to you.
 

How we tested

I used the Thrustmaster eSwap Pro XR Forza Horizon 5 Edition as my main controller over the course of several weeks playing racing games as well as other game types to test the functionality on my gaming PC.